The memory of the video footage he saw on his grandfather’s hidden camera made his grip on the steering wheel even stronger. His eyes reddened to hold back the emotions that overflowed in his heart. With his feelings still cut by painful memories, Daniel finally continued the journey to the hospital where Emily was being treated.
After arriving at the hospital, Daniel’s steps led him to the waiting room, where Fred sat with a worried expression on his face.
“Where are you going, Em?” asked Fred in a worried tone.
“Have you been waiting long? I’m sorry,” said Daniel.
“Em, is there something bothering you?” asked Fred in a worried voice. “You can tell me about it. Since when did my daughter become so secretive like this?”
Daniel replied with a bitter smile on his lips, trying to hide what was weighing on his mind. He stared at Fred in silence. Fred didn’t realize that the person standing before him wasn’t Emily, but Daniel’s soul trapped inside her daughter’s body.
“Does Mr. Daniel’s family already know that he’s being treated here? I think we need to inform his family, don’t you?” asked Fred.
“No need,” Daniel replied in a low, firm voice. “They won’t care either.”
***
The next day, Emily was still lying helplessly on the hospital bed, showing no signs of consciousness. The atmosphere in the ICU room was eerily quiet, with only the sound of machines beating monotonously. The doctor who treated her performed a CT scan on Emily’s head to evaluate the brain injury that might have occurred because of the hard impact of the accident.
The doctor with a serious face held the CT scan results in his hand. The dim room lights reflected brightly off the monitor screen. “The CT scan shows intracranial bleeding and significant brain swelling,” he said slowly. “His condition is critical, and he is currently in a coma.”
Daniel sat upright in the chair, his gaze blankly on the doctor, who was still holding the CT scan results. Deep anger and sadness surged through him. With a slightly trembling voice, Daniel finally found the courage to ask, “Is there any hope for his recovery?” his voice sounded fragile.
“We will do everything we can to treat the patient. His brain injury requires intensive care. We need time to see his progress,” the doctor replied.
“Please, save him, do whatever is best for him,” Daniel said.
“We will do our best,” said the doctor with confidence.
During a week of silence and worry, Emily continued to lie unconscious in a hospital bed. Every second felt like a century had passed, while Daniel faithfully accompanied her by reading books to her.
Every day, Daniel never tired of talking to Emily, conveying his hopeful prayers for Emily’s recovery. Daniel felt trapped in an indecision that haunted him because he couldn’t do anything for Emily’s recovery.
“Em, please wake up. Can you hear me?” Daniel hissed in a hopeful voice, his hand gently holding Emily’s hand, which lay fragile on the hospital bed. His eyes radiated a deep sadness when he saw the state of the woman he loved.
“Today is the day we were supposed to have our honeymoon. It’s so cold outside. Can you wake up soon from your long sleep?” Daniel’s voice sounded soft, filled with longing and hope. His eyes were full of love and care gazed lovingly at Emily, who was still deep in sleep.
“I miss you, Em,” Daniel said in a voice filled with tenderness and longing.
“I’m going to Thailand tomorrow. I will leave you with your father for a few days. I hope our souls will soon return to our respective bodies. Let me lie in your place there. If I can replace your suffering, I will,” Daniel said in a sincere voice, while tightly grasping Emily’s hand. Infinite affection and care radiated from every touch and word he uttered.
“I love you so much. You are the first and last woman I love,” said Daniel. Without realizing it, a drop of tear escaped from the corner of Emily’s eye, which was now trapped in Daniel’s body.
As Daniel left Emily’s room, his eyes met with Richard, who had just come to visit.
“Can we talk for a minute?” Daniel asked Richard.
Daniel and Richard talked in the hospital waiting room. They sat on chairs in a quiet yet tense atmosphere. Daniel looked at Richard with a serious expression, ready to talk about what was weighing on his mind.
“I already consider you as a friend and someone I can trust,” Daniel said. Richard frowned in confusion, trying to understand the meaning hidden behind Daniel’s words.
“What do you mean?” asked Richard.
“Actually, I’m Daniel,” Daniel replied firmly. “This may sound crazy, but my soul and Emily’s were switched when we were in Thailand,” he explained.
Richard was silent, his eyes flashing with confusion, trying to digest the unimaginable truth.
“I know it is hard to believe what I’m saying, but right now, what’s lying inside is Emily’s soul trapped in my body,” Daniel continued, trying to explain the unbelievable situation.
“I used to hate Emily so much, because her biological father caused my parents’ death, but now I love her so much,” Daniel explained in a voice full of regret. “I’ve also been hiding something from you that Emily and I are actually married.”
“Married?” Richard looked at Daniel in disbelief.
“No wonder, every time I’m always suspicious of you guys who seem to smile and steal glances at each other,” Richard said. Their conversation made Daniel smile slightly, the memory of him and Emily flashing through his mind. A small smile was etched on his lips, reflecting a sense of happiness and longing.
“Are you really Mr. Daniel?” asked Richard in a doubtful tone. Although he couldn’t believe what he was hearing at the moment, but seeing the seriousness and firmness in the way Daniel spoke, who was now in Emily’s body, made him hesitate a little and believe the words spoken.
“Right, it’s me,” Daniel replied in a steady voice. He again tried to convince Richard by bringing up their past, where Richard worked hard to pay his parents’ debts until they met. Daniel, who was cold and stern, helped him a lot and guided him until Richard was finally appointed as his personal assistant.
“I am very grateful to you, Mr. Daniel. You helped me a lot until today. I will never forget your kindness,” Richard said.
“During my absence, I would like to leave the company to you,” Daniel said in a firm tone, emphasizing his trust in Richard to manage the company during his absence.
“I’m sorry, sir. But where are you going?” asked Richard in a polite tone.
“Thailand. Right now, there’s not much I can do within Emily’s body. I hope that after my departure to Thailand, my soul and Emily’s soul will return to each other’s bodies. If I make both of our souls return, that means Emily will return to this body,” Daniel explained in a voice full of hope and conviction.
“And that means you will return to your comatose body?” asked Richard, seeking confirmation of the big decision Daniel had made. Daniel just nodded in response.
“Right, I’m going back to my body. I can’t let Emily suffer for too long,” Daniel replied.
“One more thing, I have handed over all the evidence about the murderers of my parents, my grandfather, and also the person who has made Emily like this. I hope you will continue to follow the progress of this case,” Daniel ordered in a firm and decisive voice.
Richard nodded as a sign of understanding and loyalty to Daniel’s request. “All right, I understand, sir.”
Later that night, Daniel was still sitting upright as usual, staring at his face that had Emily’s soul in it, filled with hopes and prayers for Emily’s recovery. The hollow sound of the monitor machine in the private hospital room seemed to blend into the silence of the night.
Because of exhaustion and deep worry, Daniel finally fell asleep next to Emily, holding her hand tightly.
As Daniel drifted off to sleep, he dreamed he was in front of the house of the mysterious old lady who had swapped their souls. With cautious steps, he walked towards the old house, feeling the mysterious aura surrounding him. Just as he was about to open the door of the old house, there was a familiar voice, a voice that seemed to crawl into his heart and mind.
“Have you come?”